RESOURCE ALLOCATION, SCHEDULING, AND SIGNALING FOR GROUPING REAL TIME SERVICES

• US 20080090583A1
• Filed: 08/17/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pantech Wireless, LLC (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, John, Sammour, Mohammed, Chandra, Arty, Wang, Jin, Terry, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,165,594 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/452.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/121 for groups of terminals or users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus for resource allocation signaling for grouping user real time services. Uplink signaling for voice activity reporting of each user'"'"'s transition between an active state and an inactive voice state is sent from a wireless transmit/receive unit to a Node B. Radio resource allocation to users of a wireless communication system varies based on user measurement reporting, a pre-determined pattern such as frequency hopping, or a pseudorandom function. Grouping methods are adjusted to better utilize the voice activity factor, so that statistical multiplexing can be used to more efficiently utilize physical resources.

Claims

1. A method for signaling grouping information to a group of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), comprising the steps of:

assigning radio resources to the group; and

signaling the radio resources to the WTRUs in the group over a common control channel including the radio bearer assignment.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signaling step further includes signaling the WTRU identifier.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signaling step further includes signaling hybrid automatic repeat request information.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signaling step further includes signaling the WTRU identifier and hybrid automatic repeat request information.

5. A method for signaling grouping information to a group of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), comprising the steps of:

assigning radio resources to the group; and

signaling the radio resources to the WTRUs in the group by sending a radio resource control configuration message including a location of a resource assignment bitmap, a radio bearer assignment, and hybrid automatic repeat request information.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the configuration message further includes a position of a particular WTRU in the resource assignment bitmap, whereby the WTRU knows where in the bitmap to look for its resource assignment.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the configuration message further includes transmission time interval information, whereby the WTRU knows when to read the resource assignment information.

8. A method for assigning resources in a wireless communication system based on a downlink voice activity report, comprising the steps of:

detecting a voice state transition of a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) by a Node B;

assigning radio resources by the Node B from a WTRU in a silent voice state to a WTRU in an active voice state;

signaling the new radio resource assignments from the Node B to all WTRUs in communication with the Node B.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the Node B is an evolved universal terrestrial radio access Node B.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the Node B predicts an uplink voice activity level of the WTRU based on the downlink voice activity of the WTRU.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the Node B adjusts the radio resources allocated to the WTRU based on the predicted uplink voice activity level.

12. A method for assigning resources in a wireless communication system based on an uplink voice activity report, comprising the steps of:

detecting a voice state transition at a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU);

reporting the voice state from the WTRU to a Node B;

assigning radio resources by the Node B from a WTRU in a silent voice state to a WTRU in an active voice state;

signaling the new radio resource assignment from the Node B to the WTRU in the active voice state.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the Node B is an evolved universal terrestrial radio access Node B.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the reporting step includes sending a status report from the WTRU to the Node B.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the status report includes one bit to indicate the voice state of the WTRU.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the status report is sent from the WTRU to the Node B by physical control signaling.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the status report is sent from the WTRU to the Node B over an uplink periodic dedicated channel.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the uplink periodic dedicated channel is used if no other channels are available.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the status report is sent from the WTRU to the Node B over a synchronous random access channel.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the status report is sent from the WTRU to the Node B with the last data packet sent from the WTRU to the Node B.

21. The method according to claim 14, wherein the status report is sent from the WTRU to the Node B as part of a medium access control header.

22. The method according to claim 14, wherein the status report is sent from the WTRU to the Node B piggybacked with another uplink Layer 2 packet.

23. The method according to claim 14, wherein the status report is sent from the WTRU to the Node B in a medium access control packet.

24. The method according to claim 14, wherein the status report is sent from the WTRU to the Node B as part of a radio link control status report.

25. The method according to claim 14, wherein the status report is sent from the WTRU to the Node B using radio resource control signaling.

26. The method according to claim 14, wherein the status report is sent from the WTRU to the Node B as part of a scheduling information message.

27. The method according to claim 14, wherein the status report is sent from the WTRU to the Node B as part of a buffer size message.

28. The method according to claim 14, wherein the status report is protected by using repetition coding, wherein a possibility of misinterpreting the status report is reduced.

29. The method according to claim 14, wherein the status report is protected by using a cyclic redundancy check, wherein a possibility of misinterpreting the status report is reduced.

30. The method according to claim 12, wherein the assigning step includes the WTRU automatically forfeiting the radio resource when the WTRU sends an indication that it is in the silent state.

31. The method according to claim 12, wherein the assigning step includes the Node B sending a resource de-allocation message to the WTRU, instructing the WTRU to release the radio resource.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the de-allocation message further includes an allocation message to a second WTRU, the second WTRU being allocated the radio resource released by the WTRU.

33. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of verifying the voice state report.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the verifying step includes the steps of:

starting a timer at the WTRU after sending the voice state report to the Node B;

determining whether an unexpected message was received at the WTRU before the timer expires; and

if an unexpected message was not received then

determining whether a new resource allocation was received at the WTRU before the timer expires.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein if the timer expires, the WTRU sends an error report to the Node B and the method at the WTRU terminates.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein upon receipt of the error report, the Node B assigns the radio resource to a different service in the WTRU.

37. The method according to claim 35, wherein upon receipt of the error report, the Node B assigns the radio resource to a different WTRU.

38. The method according to claim 34, wherein if the timer expires, the WTRU resends the voice status report to the Node B and the method terminates at the WTRU.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein if the WTRU is entering the silent voice state, the Node B assigns the radio resource to a different service in the WTRU.

40. The method according to claim 38, wherein if the WTRU is entering the silent voice state, the Node B assigns the radio resource to a different WTRU.

41. The method according to claim 38, wherein if the WTRU is entering the active voice state, the Node B assigns radio resources to the WTRU.

42. The method according to claim 34, wherein if the WTRU receives an unexpected message, the WTRU sends an error report to the Node B and the method terminates at the WTRU.

43. The method according to claim 42, wherein upon receipt of the error report, the Node B assigns the radio resource to a different service in the WTRU.

44. The method according to claim 42, wherein upon receipt of the error report, the Node B assigns the radio resource to a different WTRU.

45. The method according to claim 34, wherein if the WTRU receives an unexpected message, the WTRU resends the voice status report to the Node B and the method terminates at the WTRU.

46. A method for assigning radio resources to a group of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), comprising the steps of:

grouping a plurality of WTRUs;

assigning radio resources to the group of WTRUs;

randomizing a radio resource block assignment, whereby the radio resource block assignment is varied; and

signaling the radio resource block assignment to the WTRUs in the group.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein the randomizing step includes using a pseudorandom function.

48. The method according to claim 47, wherein the pseudorandom function is iterated by a radio resource block number.

49. The method according to claim 47, wherein the pseudorandom function is iterated by a frame number.

50. The method according to claim 46, wherein the randomizing step includes using frequency hopping with a known pattern.

51. The method according to claim 46, wherein the randomizing step includes the steps of:

measuring a channel quality at the WTRU;

selecting a preferred radio resource block at the WTRU based on the measured channel quality;

reporting the preferred radio resource block from the WTRU to the Node B; and

analyzing the preferred radio resource block by the Node B.

52. The method according to claim 51, wherein the analyzing step includes considering at least one additional factor selected from the group consisting of:

cell load condition, interference level, service requests from other WTRUs, and service priorities.

53. The method according to claim 46, wherein the signaling step includes using multiple bit signaling.

54. The method according to claim 53, wherein the multiple bit signaling includes information relating to the voice state of the WTRU and the radio resource block assignment.

55. The method according to claim 54, wherein the multiple bit signaling further includes information relating to a hybrid automatic repeat request identifier.

56. The method according to claim 46, wherein the signaling step includes using a common control channel.

57. The method according to claim 46, wherein the signaling step includes using a dedicated control channel.

58. A method for voice user multiplexing in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:

assigning a plurality of voice users to a group; and

multiplexing the voice users in the group such that a voice activity factor for the group is a statistical average number.

59. The method according to claim 58, wherein the multiplexing step includes performing a statistical multiplexing based on voice traffic volume in a cell.

60. The method according to claim 58, wherein a number of users to be multiplexed is based on a threshold to achieve a desired voice activity factor.

61. The method according to claim 58, wherein a number of users to be multiplexed is based on voice traffic volume.

62. The method according to claim 58, wherein a number of users to be multiplexed is based on channel quality.

63. The method according to claim 58, further comprising the step of:

scheduling radio resources from a different group if a number of active voice users in a group exceeds the radio resources available to the group.

64. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for use in a wireless communication system, comprising:

a transmitter/receiver;

an antenna connected to said transmitter/receiver;

a voice state transition detector in communication with said transmitter/receiver, said voice state transition detector configured to detect when the WTRU transitions between a voice active state and a voice silent state and to report the current voice state of the WTRU to a Node B with which the WTRU communicates;

a radio resource assignment receiver in communication with said transmitter/receiver, said radio resource assignment receiver configured to receive radio resource assignment information;

a timer in communication with said voice state transition detector and said radio resource assignment receiver, said timer configured to count a predetermined period of time after the WTRU changes voice states;

a timer exception handler in communication with said timer and said transmitter/receiver, said timer exception handler configured to perform an action when said timer expires; and

an unexpected message handler in communication with said transmitter/receiver, said unexpected message handler configured to perform an action if the WTRU receives an unexpected message after said timer has been started.

65. The WTRU according to claim 64, wherein said timer exception handler is configured to send an error report to the Node B after the timer expires.

66. The WTRU according to claim 64, wherein said timer exception handler is configured to resend the voice state of the WTRU to the Node B after the timer expires.

67. The WTRU according to claim 64, wherein said unexpected message handler is configured to send an error report to the Node B if an unexpected message is received after said timer has been started.

68. The WTRU according to claim 64, wherein said unexpected message handler is configured to resend the voice state of the WTRU to the Node B if an unexpected message is received after said timer has been started.

69. A Node B for use in a wireless communication system, comprising:

a transmitter/receiver;

an antenna connected to said transmitter/receiver;

a voice state transition detector in communication with said transmitter/receiver, said voice state transition detector configured to detect when a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) in communication with the Node B transitions between a voice active state and a voice silent state;

a radio resource assignment device in communication with said transmitter/receiver and said voice state transition detector, said radio resource assignment device configured to assign radio resources based on a current voice state of the WTRU; and

an error report handler in communication with said transmitter/receiver and said radio resource assignment device, said error report handler configured to handle an error received by the Node B from the WTRU.

70. The Node B according to claim 69, wherein said radio resource assignment device is further configured to assign radio resources based on a received error report.

71. The Node B according to claim 69, wherein said radio resource assignment device is configured to assign radio resources from a WTRU in the voice silent state to a WTRU in the voice active state.

72. The Node B according to claim 69, wherein said radio resource assignment device is configured to assign radio resources to a different service in the same WTRU.

73. The Node B according to claim 69, wherein said radio resource assignment device is configured to assign radio resources to a different WTRU.

74. The Node B according to claim 69, wherein said error report handler is configured to inform said radio resource assignment device of the received error report.